Yep.
The greatest Christmas movie of all time... : )
Okay, that honor probably goes to It's A Wonderful Life. Die Hard just happens to take place during Christmas...
But still...
It's awesome!
The story: A New York cop flies to L.A. to see his estranged wife. While heading to her office Christmas party, a gang of terrorists take over the tower... and it's up to John McClane to save the day.
Yippee Ki Yay!
This is the movie that made Bruce Willis a star. Sure, he was already great on Moonlighting, but this gave him that Silver Screen movie star stamp of approval. We've been reaping the benefits for nearly 25 years since then.
Alan Rickman gave the ultimate slithery performance of a terrorist that all bad guys since have been forced to be compared to. Most people cannot give that type of performance, so we live with the memory of Hans Gruber as the ultimate bad guy.
The movie, of course, seems simple in execution. And has spawned, like Jaws, countless imitations. If ever a hero is trapped somewhere by bad guys, the movie was likely pitched, it's like Die Hard...on a Blank!
Under Siege: Die Hard on a boat.
Speed: Die Hard on a bus.
See? But the formula works, as both of those made the Top 100 list. ; )
As for the rest of the franchise, it's almost as awesome as the original. Like most franchises, the second one is a bit weaker, but the third comes back strong. Really love the pairing of Willis and Samuel L. Jackson in that one. The fourth one, unfortunately they decided to pc John McClane for a different time. It still works, but McClane's got to be free to be violent AND potty-mouthed as the situation fits. Otherwise, it just feels wrong.
And yes, I'm looking forward to Die Hard 5.
: )
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